Job Discussion Forums

blateson · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 144

isit easy or difficult to open a standard savings acct there? i want to deposit some cash on my next trip -- dont want to keep it in vietnam. last i checked the main purple colored "#1 bank" and they gave me a list of documents to provide them incl. work permit, proper visa, employer contract etc. i'm just a tourist. thanks.

Bangkok Hound · Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 66 Location: Bangkok

It pretty much comes down to the individual branch and the individual teller. I tried Siam Commerical Bank (the purple one) and they wouldn't let me open an account without a work permit. This was before I had one. After I got a WP I opened an account at Bangkok Bank (Siam Paragon branch) and they also asked for a WP. I don't know if they would have opened an account without one. And recently I opend a joint accout with my wife at Krung Thai Bank and they also asked for a WP.

This has been my experience. I've heard of many others who opened accounts with nothing more than a 30 stamp in their passports.

skann · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 25

After getting a teaching job, I went to Siam Commercial to open an account. That is the bank that my workplace uses, so I had to get the account there to get paid. They didn't want to open the account for me because I didn't have my work permit yet, but I called my boss (the owner of the school) and had her talk to the banker, and they let me open it with the promise I would bring in a copy of the work permit when I got it.

lovetowander · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Australia temp..

Kasikorn do one without work permits, just use your passport.
They are the old Thai Farmer bank, they are good and they give you a Visa debit card which is handy.

PattyFlipper · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 572

Thai banks are a pain. Incompetent, obstructionist and racist, generally. Thailand is in no way, shape, or form an "offshore" banking centre. I'll bet Thaksin and his cohorts don't keep much of their ill-gotten gains in Thai banks! With only a tourist visa, you will likely not find it so easy to open an account in Thailand nowadays; and even if you do manage to open one, you will have to convert your savings into baht - which may present another set of obstacles when you want to reconvert into foreign currency.

Since you are in Vietnam, I would suggest you try Phnom Penh. Cambodian banks are much more foreigner-friendly and most of them will happily open accounts for non-residents. (PM me for a list if you like). Unlike Thailand, there are no exchange controls. You can keep your money in US dollars and easily make electronic transfers out of the country if you wish. Some of them offer very competitive rates of interest, too. (Are Thai banks still refusing to pay foreigners interest on their savings?) It is also very easy to get international debit and credit cards (Visa/Mastercard/Amex) so you have immediate access to your funds.

lovetowander · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Australia temp..

Isn't it strange, I've never had a problem with a bank here in the 15 years I've been doing business here. I think its who you score on the day at times. I have a friend who had nothing but trouble in bangkok, bad taxi's, bad service, she even got mugged in McDonalds while eating her burger with her Mum. lol so wierd!

DMPT · Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 71

Yup, Kasikorn (green bank) will do it with a tourist visa.

As said before Thai banks offer 0% interest to non-residents.

PattyFlipper · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 572